Last night I had a funny dream. I dreamt I was riding a broomstick, flying for miles across the land. I marveled at how the broomstick could take my weight, and how I could still find it comfortable.
I woke up and was reminded of the scene in Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones in which the broom, mop and hoe are reunited. This made me smile - despite the fact that it has been years since I read that book.
I logged on to twitter this afternoon to find that today Diana Wynne Jones has passed away after a long battle with cancer. I found her books to be an inspiration to me as a child, teenager and adult. Do not dismiss her books as 'childrens books'. She preceded J K Rowling in writing books to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
I think my favourite of her books are Fire & Hemlock and Howl's Moving Castle. The latter has been made into a film, which I am happy to say I have not seen, as the images evoked by her writing have stayed with me for far longer than anything on television ever could.
I am going to search my bookshelves to find my copy of Fire & Hemlock and re read it tonight (possibly by candlelight during Earth Hour) and remember a woman who gifted hundreds and thousands of children with doors to other worlds, Seven League Boots, and their very own castle's in the Air.
RIP Diana Wynne Jones x
Couldn't have said it better myself.
ReplyDeleteThe world has lost a very special and talented lady today.